Ohio University Receives Record Gift of $105 Million To Train More Primary Care Doctors

The primary goal is to keep the education effort alive for primary care physicians and the gift represents the largest donation given to an Ohio institution. In addition the donation is earmarked to also further research for diabetes.

We have all heard for years that someday there would be a shortage of primary care doctors and if you read the news lately, we are hearing this quite frequently with the the current disruptive nature of healthcare relative to payer systems, analytics, and so forth, many have dropped out of the profession. BD

The primary goal is to keep the education effort alive for primary care physicians and the gift represents the largest donation given to an Ohio institution. In addition the donation is earmarked to also further research for diabetes.

We have all heard for years that someday there would be a shortage of primary care doctors and if you read the news lately, we are hearing this quite frequently with the the current disruptive nature of healthcare relative to payer systems, analytics, and so forth, many have dropped out of the profession. BD

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A medical foundation has announced a record gift to an Ohio college: a $105 million award to help an Ohio University medical school turn out more primary care doctors and further its research into diabetes. “This gift will transform lives,” said OU President Roderick McDavis of the money being given to the university’s College of Osteopathic Medicine by the Osteopathic Heritage Foundations. The gift announced at symposium in Columbus on Saturday represents the largest private donation ever given to an Ohio institution of higher learning, surpassing earlier $100 million gifts to OU and Ohio State University, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education.

The ranks of traditional family doctors have been depleted by retirements and a tendency among younger physicians to specialize. Some of the money will allow the OU college to develop teaching tools, offer scholarships and arrange student loan repayment.